"Certainly," continued the doctor; "what's to prevent our pushing on during the summer across the land?"
"Across the land! true! But how about the sea?"
"Can't we build a small boat out of the timber of the Porpoise?"
"An American boat, you mean," answered Hatteras, scornfully, "and commanded by this American!"
The doctor understood the captain's repugnance, and judged it best to change the conversation.
"Now that we know what our supplies are," he went on, "we must build some safe place for them, and a house for ourselves. We have plenty of material, and we can settle ourselves very comfortably. I hope, Bell," he added, turning to the carpenter, "that you are going to distinguish yourself; I may be able to help you too, I trust."
"I'm ready, Doctor," answered Bell; "if it were necessary I could easily build a whole city with houses and streets out of these blocks of ice—"
"We sha'n't need as much as that; let us follow the example of the agents of the Hudson's Bay Company; they build forts which protect them from the wild beasts and the Indians; that is all we need; let us make it no larger than necessary; on one side the dwelling, on the other the stores, with a sort of curtain, and two bastions. I'll try to rub up what I know about fortification."
"Upon my word, Doctor," said Johnson, "I don't doubt that we shall make something very fine under your direction."
"Well, my friends, we must first choose a site; a good engineer should first study the lay of the land. Will you come with me, Hatteras?"